Cable connector



Oct. 3, 1939.

G. C. THOMAS, JR

CABLE CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 4, 1936 INVENTOR.

As J R. 4 M

ATTORNEYS GEORGE C. THO

Patented Oct. 3, 1939 PATENT OFFICE CABLE CONNECTOR George C. Thomas,Jr.,

to The Thomas & Betts Elizabeth, N. J., assignor 00., Elizabeth, N. J.,

a corporation of New Jersey Application September 3 Claims.

The invention relates to a connector by means of which a cylindricalpart, such as a cable, is secured to an outlet box, or similarstructure, so that wires may be projected through an outlet opening inthe box and connected with an elec trical fixture carried by orsupported from the outlet box. The connector is designed particularlyfor cables, although its construction is capable of wider applicationand may be used to clamp any cylindrical or oval wiring structure.

The principal object of the invention is to de-- sign a cable connectorwhich is adapted to clamp one of a plurality of different sizes ofcables therein, and to clamp all sizes of cables with equal facility andefficiency.

Another object of the invention is to construct a cable connector whichwill clamp one of a plurality of difierent sizes of cables by providinga plurality of clamping positions for the clamping member relatively tothe other member and in which the clamping member is movable from oneclamping position for one size of cable to another clamping position foranother size of cable without separation of the parts.

Another object is to produce a cable connector with a sleeve member anda clamping member having a plurality of positions relatively to thesleeve member, which positions adapt the connector for clamping aplurality of sizes of cables and also provide means or an arrangement ofparts such that the two members are locked in selected position whengripping a cable between the members.

A still further object is to construct a cable connector including asleeve member and a clamping member and in which one end of the latterhas a plurality of positions relatively to the sleeve member therebyadapting the connector for a plurality of different sizes of cables. Theconnector is also constructed so that the clamping member is retainedagainst lateral displacement when shifting the same from one position toanother.

Other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showingsome preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the sleeve member which issecured to or within a box hole in an outlet box.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section, of theconnection between the clamping plate or member and the sleeve member orparticularly between the recess or bearing carried. by

4, 1936, Serial No. 99,334 (Cl. 285-65) the sleeve member and theclamping plate. The clamping plate is shown in engaging position in therecess.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the clamping member.

Figure 4 is an end view of the assembled cable connector with a part ofthe clamping plate or member in section showing the connection thereofwitth an operating screw by means of an elongated slo Figure 5 is a sideview of the cable connector gripping a small diameter cable and showinga plurality of spaced. bearings for the clamping plate.

Figure 6 is an end view of the connector of Figures 4 and 5 gripping asmall diameter cable.

Figure '7 is an end view of the cable connector of Figure 4 with theclamping member in its upper or large diameter cable position andgripping a large diameter cable.

The cable connector to be described herein is adjustable so that aplurality of different sizes of cables may be effectively clampedtherein merely by adjusting the clamping plate or member in one of aplurality of positions which it may take. Preferably one position isprovided for the clamping member for each cable size so that if thecable connector is to be adapted for clamping two different sizes ofcables, then two positions are provided for the clamping plate.

It is desirable in a cable connector which is adapted for differentsizes of cables to construct the connector in such a way that theclamping member or plate may be shifted from one of its positions toanother without separating the parts of the connector. When attaching aconnector to a cable, an electrician has to manipulate one tool, theconnector, and the cable. If the connector is made up of separableparts, he will frequently drop a part of the connector in assembling itupon the cable and must retrieve it. This is inconvenient and alsoresults in loss of time. Such inconvenience and loss of time, resultingfrom dropping and retrieving parts, will not occur with a connectorwhich is adjustable for different sizes of cable if the parts need notbe separated when making an adjustment for a particular size of cable.

The cable connector includes a sleeve member 30 which carries means forsecuring the connector to an outlet box and preferably within an openingin the outlet box. Any such securing means is contemplated, thatillustrated utilizing the threaded part 3| of the sleeve member and anut 32 which is received thereon. The part 3| is inserted in a box holein the wall of an outlet box,

which wall is then clamped between the bead of the sleeve member 36 andthe nut.

The sleeve member has a clamping seat 35 against which a cable isadapted to be clamped. The sleeve member also has a bearing portion 36which is shown as being a continuation of the clamping seat 35. Thebearing portion 36 has a plurality of spaced bearings which areillustrated in the form of recesses 3i and 38. Any form of clampingmember bearing is contemplated and the recesses illustrated provide thesimplest form of such bearing. The recesses 3i and 38 are connected by apassage 39, the purpose of which will appear more fully hereinafter. Therecesses 37 and 38 and the passage 39 are in the form of an I, as viewedin Figure 5, or the letter H if viewed with the cable connector standingon end.

The sleeve member 36 has a projection or ear 42 which is also shown asbeing a continuation or extension of the clamping seat 35. A screw hole43 is provided in the ear 42. This screw hole is adapted to receive anoperating screw, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

A clamping member or plate 56 has an elongated slot 51 at one end asillustrated in Figure 3. The two members, represented by the clampingmember 56 and the sleeve member 30, carry means for supporting one endof the clamping member in cooperative relation with the clamping seat 35of the sleeve member. This means includes a plu-' rality of spacedbearings, illustrated as recesses 37 and 38 in the sleeve member, and aprojection 60, 6| upon the other member, illustrated as being upon theend of the clamping member. The projection, or it may be the end of theclamping member, engages in one of the recesses and is shiftable toanother recess whereby cables of different size may be clamped in thecable connector. The projection is illustrated in Figure 5 as beingreceived in the lower recess 38.

The projection includes a wide portion 66 which is joined to theclamping member 56, or particularly to the clamping seat thereof, by aneck 6i. This neck 6! is narrow enough to pass freely through thepassage 59. Part of the wide portion of the projection is preferablygreater in width than the recesses 31 or 36 in which the wide portion 60is received so that the wide portion 66 of the projection cannot bepulled through the recess. In the construction particularly shown thewide portion has angularly directed sides 62 which enable the wideportion 60 to enter into the recess 38 so that the upper face thereofengages the projections it in order to provide a bearing or fulcrum forthe clamping member. There are other ways of constructing this wideportion 66 of the clamping member 56, that illustrated being merely apreferred form for obtaining cooperating bearing engagement between thesleeve member 30 and the clamping member 56.

It has been described that of the projection is greater in width thanthe length of the recess 3'? or 38. The wide portion 6.) is insertedinto the recess by tipping the clamping plate or member so that the wideportion 6E3 is vertical and passes through the passageway 39. It will beobserved, therefore, that the combined dimension of the length of thepassage 39 joining the recesses 3i and 68 and the width of the recesses3i and 38 is greater than the width of the wide portion 66. After thewide portion 68 is passed through the recesses and passage so that theneck 61 is within the passage, the clamping the Wide portion 69 platemay be turned horizontally to its normal clamping position.

An operating means in the form of a screw 52 passes through the slot 51in the clamping member 56 and is received in the threaded hole 43 in theear 42, as illustrated in Figure 4, after the clamping member has beenmounted in the bearing portion 36 or in one of the recesses 31 or 38.The operating screw forces the clamping member 56 towards the clampingseat 35 on the sleeve member 36 and thereby clamps a cable C in thecable connector. It is clear that the operating screw may be threadedinto either member and the slot provided in the other member withoutaltering the operation or effectiveness of the screw;-

In shifting the clamping plate from one recess 3? or 38 to the other,the clamping member 56 is moved endwise tothe left or outwardly from theposition illustrated in Figure 6, so that the narrow neck 6! is theportion of the clamping member which is directly in the recess. Theclamping member may then be lifted since the neck 6| will pass throughthe passage 59 until the clamping plate or member is in the upper recess31. The clamping plate is then moved endwise to the right or inwardly tothe position illustrated in Figure 7, whereupon the wide portion 60engages the upper surface of the recess 31. In this position, the cableconnector is adapted to receive the large diameter of wire or cable LC.Tightening of the operating screw 52 then clamps the cable between theclamping member and the clamping seat 35 of the sleeve member 30.

The clamping member 56 has an arcuate or curved seat formed thereinwhich engages the cables C or L0. With the large cable L0, asillustrated in Figure 7, this arcuate seat prevents endwise movement ofthe clamping plate. With a smaller cable, however, as. illustrated inFigure 6, it may be possible to obtain a certain degree of endwisemovement which may be suflicient to disengage the wide portion 60 fromthe recess 38. In order to positively lock the clamping member 56against endwise movement when the cable is clamped in the cableconnector, means is provided for preventing such endwise movement. Thismeans includes a shoulder or abutment particularly shown as; beingformed by an upturned lug 65. This lug is so positioned that when theclamping member 56 is moved to the right and the clamping screw 52 istightened to grip the cable, the head of the operating screw 52 locksthe clamping plate against endwise movement to the left or outwardly,which is the direction of movement which must take place in order torelease engagement of the wide portion 68 from within the recess 38.

Disengagement of the projection 60, 6! from its respective recess isaccomplished by providing a slot 51 in the clamping member 56 whichenables endwise disengaging movement of the clamping member andprojection from the recess. Other methods of obtaining disengagement ofthe projection from its recess for movement to another recess arecontemplated, and the endwise movement is illustrative only. Any kind ofrelative movement between the members in order to disengage theprojection from its recess is contemplated.

In the invention described hereinbefore, means are provided forretaining the end of the clamping member within the opening formed bythe recesses and connecting passage when shifting from one recessorbearing to the other, which means also prevents lateral displacement ofthe clamping member. This means is the projection 60 and the neck 6|.

It will be observed that the recesses are carried by the sleeve member.This is the preferred construction and the recesses may be carried uponeither member forming the cable connector, and the part or projectionwhich engages in one of the recesses is then carried by the othermember. Similarly, it is immaterial which one of the members carries thescrew threads for the operating screw and which is provided with anopening for receiving the operating screw. Although the preferred formof bearing utilizes recesses, it is to be understood that other forms ofbearings are contemplated and within the scope of the invention. Alsothe members are made of material which is rigid so that they retaintheir shape without any detrimental bending and so that a pivotal orhinged connection may be provided at or between the bearings.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in theconfiguration, composition and disposition of the component elementsgoing to make up the invention as a whole, as well as in the selectivecombination or application of the respective elements, and no limitationis intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description orillustrations in the accompanying drawing.

What is claimed is:

1. A cable connector for securing a cable to an outlet box comprising asleeve member having a clamping seat; means carried by the sleeve memberto secure the same within a box hole; a clamping member; means carriedby the two members for supporting one end of the clamping member incooperative relation with the clamping seat including a plurality ofspaced recesses in the sleeve member, and a projection upon the end ofthe clamping member engaging in one of the recesses and shiftable toanother whereby cables of different sizes may be clamped in theconnector, the projection including a cap, and a narrower neck betweenthe clamping member and cap; an operating screw carried by the sleevemember; a slot in the clamping member through which the operating screwpasses and engages the clamping member to force the same towards theclamping seat and into clamping engagement with a cable within thesleeve member, the slot enabling inward endwise movement of the clampingmember to remove the cap from engagement with a recess for insertion inanother recess without removing the clamping member from the operatingscrew; and a passage connecting the recesses through which the neckpasses.

2. A cable connector for securing a cable to an outlet box comprising asleeve member having a clamping seat; means carried by the sleeve memberto secure the same within a box hole; a clamping member; means carriedby the two members for supporting one end of the clamping member incooperative relation with the clamping seat including a plurality ofspaced recesses in the sleeve member, and a projection upon the end ofthe clamping member engaging in one of the recesses and shiftable toanother whereby cables of different sizes may be clamped in theconnector, the projection including a wide portion, and a narrower neckbetween the clamping member and the wide portion; an operating screwcarried by the sleeve member and having a head; a slot in the clampingmember through which the operating screw passes and engages the clampingmember to force the same towards the clamping seat and into clampingengagement with a cable within the sleeve member, the slot enablinginward endwise movement of the clamping member to remove the cap fromengagement with a recess for insertion in another recess withoutremoving the clamping member from the operating screw; means to preventendwise displacement of the clamping member after clamping a cablewithin the connector including a shoulder upon the clamping memberengaging the head of the screw when tightened; and a passage connectingthe recesses through which the second projection passes.

3. A cable connector for securing a cable to an outlet box comprising asleeve member having a clamping seat; means carried by the sleeve memberto secure the same within a box hole; a clamping member having aclamping seat; means carried by the two members for supporting one endof the clamping member in cooperative relation with the clamping seatincluding a plurality of spaced recesses in the sleeve member, and aprojection upon the end of the clamping member engaging in one of therecesses and shiftable to another whereby cables of different sizes maybe clamped in the connector, the projection including a wide portionhaving a part which is greater in width than the length of the recess,and a narrower neck between the clamping seat and the wide portion; anoperating screw carried by the sleeve member; a slot in the clampingmember through which the operating screw passes and engages the clampingmember to force the same towards the clamping seat upon the sleevemember and into clamping engagement with a cable thereon, the slotenabling endwise movement of the clamping member to remove theprojection from engagement with a recess for insertion in another recesswithout removing the clamping member from the operating screw; and apassage connecting the recesses through which the neck passes when theclamping member is shifted from one recess to another, the combineddimension of the passage and the width of the two recesses permittingthe projection to be inserted into a recess.

GEORGE C. THOMAS. JR.

